Torsten Sauer

Managing Partner

Torsten Sauer

Torsten Sauer is a corporate, M&A and private capital lawyer based in Luxembourg. He is also the Managing Partner of Luxembourg, and sits on the EMEA Audit Committee for the firm.

Torsten has an important transaction-focused, cross-border practice spanning several industries, strategies, and geographic regions. His clients include top-flight asset managers, hedge funds, real estate market participants (such as real estate funds/REITs, project developers, mutual funds, family offices, W&I insurers, etc.), stock-exchange listed multinationals, major financial institutions, PFS and (re)insurance undertakings, which he advises on all aspects of corporate law and governance matters, the structuring of corporate finance transactions, the setting up and negotiation of strategic joint ventures / co-investments, reorganisations, (re)-financings, as well as mergers & acquisitions. His legal counsel is also regularly sought after by a cluster of important Ultra-High-Net-Worth-Individuals with regards to the structuring of their private wealth and related governance matters. Additionally, Torsten advised over the last few years on some of the most important transactions of the Luxembourg market in the venture capital and Fintech space.

He is a standing member of the New York, Paris and Luxembourg bars and is fully proficient in English, French and German.

Prior to joining the firm, Torsten worked for leading international law firms in Paris, New York and Luxembourg. He is recommended by Legal 500, IFLR1000 , Who´s Who Legal and Leaders League. Torsten is named as the exclusive winner in the area of M&A and Governance for Luxembourg at the Lexology Client Choice Awards 2024 and 2025.

Representative experience

Advised Kneip Management on its sale of Kneip Communications S.A. to Deutsche Börse.
Advised a management shareholder of L’Occitane Group S.A. on its shareholding and other related arrangements in relation to the skin care company’s €6 billion take-private offer of L’Occitane International S.A.
Advised Vistra Holdings S.à r.l. on the due diligence and subsequent acquisition of Kroll (Luxembourg) Management Company S.à r.l., a prominent super management company holding Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) licenses.

Rankings and recognitions

Lexology Client Choice Award Winner 2025, M&A and Governance, Luxembourg

"He puts the client at the heart of the business. He is smart, pragmatic, effective and quick in his legal advice."
"Torsten is an exceptional lawyer"
"He is a trusted adviser and our first choice for Luxembourg counsel"

Tier 3: Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Luxembourg, Legal 500 EMEA, 2025

"Torsten Sauer is highly pragmatic, responsive and user friendly. "

Excellent: Corporate/M&A, Real Estate, Wealth Management, Luxembourg, Leaders League, 2025

Highly recommended: Corporate/M&A, Private equity, Restructuring & Insolvency, Luxembourg, Leaders League, 2025

Lexology Client Choice Award Winner 2024, M&A, Luxembourg

"Torsten Sauer is a very reliable and pragmatic advisor."
"Mr Sauer combines excellent legal and commercial knowledge in his sector."
"Torsten is always able to find a practical solution to difficult situations which is highly appreciated by his clients."
"With Torsten's very hands on approach and impressive responsiveness he is clearly standing out in the Luxembourg market."

Who's Who Legal 2024, M&A and Governance

"Torsten Sauer enjoys a fantastic reputation for his international M&A practice, with clients describing him as "a pragmatic and responsive lawyer"."

Tier 4: Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Luxembourg, Legal 500 EMEA, 2024

"Torsten Sauer is extremely user-friendly."
"Knowledgeable and professional, but also pragmatic."
"They provide very commercial and responsive advice."

Excellent: Real Estate, Luxembourg, Leaders League, 2024

Highly recommended: Corporate/M&A, Private equity, Restructuring & Insolvency, Luxembourg, Leaders League, 2024

Education

Diplom-Jurist, University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
Master’s Degree in International Law, University of Panthéon-Assas (Paris II), Paris, France
LL.M., Cornell Law School, Ithaca/New York, USA
Masters Degree in Business Law and International Management, HEC School of Management (in coop. with ESCP-EAP), Paris, France

Admissions

Attorney at law New York
Avocat à la Cour Luxembourg
Avocat au barreau de Paris

Publications

Co-author, "Family wealth management companies (sociétés de gestion de patrimoine familial): legal framework, advantages and challenges", Lexology, October 2024
Co-author, "Real Estate – Luxembourg on the European scene", Paperjam, February 2024
Co-author, "Financial services M&A" Lexology, 2024
Co-author, "Financial services M&A", Lexology, 2022
Co-author with Mathis Bredimus, Fiduciary duties of Luxembourg company directors during an acquisition process, RPDA, 2021/10
Co-author with Manfred Dietrich, Luxembourg Chapter of Governance, Legal Guidelines for International Management, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012
Co-author with Manfred Dietrich, Luxembourg Chapter of Governance International: Rechtsleitfaden für die Management-Praxis, Schäffer-Pöschel, 2011
The geographical optimisation of cross-border LBOs: a comparative legal and financial study of the French, German and Luxembourg systems, Les Echos de la Recherche, ESCP-EAP Paris, 2007